Former Minister of Transportation and ex-governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has denied claims that his decision to align with the opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu’s administration was driven by personal grievances over appointments.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday, Amaechi declared that he neither sought nor was denied any role in the current administration and insisted his motives are rooted in principle, not personal interest.
“I’m not in opposition because Tinubu didn’t give me an appointment. I’m not interested in any appointment,” he stated firmly. “I never stole anything in politics. I don’t drive a Rolls-Royce. If there’s anyone who says Amaechi deceived them, let them come forward. If there was corruption in my tenure, let them come forward. I’m waiting.”
Amaechi, who recently joined other prominent figures in unveiling the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the coalition’s platform ahead of the 2027 elections, took aim at the Tinubu administration, accusing it of worsening the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
“The current government has completely buried the economy. Any economy that does not put money in the pockets of Nigerians is not an economic policy,” he said. “You’re making savings from removing the subsidy, from floating the naira — where is the money? Where is it going?”
Comparing the current administration to that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, under whom he served, Amaechi argued that Buhari, despite his shortcomings, performed better in key areas.
“Buhari will tell you that he did not achieve all that he planned for. But then, he was better than the current government by all standards,” Amaechi asserted. “In terms of security, Buhari focused on it. The independence of INEC was higher in Buhari’s government than now. Now, they can’t even register a party because government officials are telling them not to.”
Amaechi further criticized what he described as the collapse of Nigeria’s socio-economic structure into a stark divide between the elite and the impoverished majority.
The Presidency has since dismissed the ADC coalition as an alliance of “displaced politicians,” but Amaechi has maintained that his mission is to challenge poor governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative in 2027.
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